Colloidal mill and system of control therefor



Dec. 5, 1933. o. A. Ross 1,937,738

COLLOIDAL MILL AND SYSTEM OF CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Dec. 1, 1927 5Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Dec. 5, 1933. o. A. Ross COLLOIDAL MILL ANDSYSTEM OF CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Dec. 1, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORBea 1933. o. A. ROSS 1,931,733

COLLOIDAL MILL AND SYSTEM OF CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Dec 1, 1927 5Sheets-Sheet 3 12s- -\ze, 121- 45 J46 1 425 GE AL 1 Q was INVENTO 1933-0. A. Ross 1,937,788

COLLOIDAL MILL AND SYSTEM OF CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Dec. 1, 1927 5Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Dec. 5, 1933. Q oss 1,937,788

COLLOIDAL MILL AND SYSTEM OF CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Dec. 1, 1927 5Sheds-Sheet 5 ll I J INVENTOR W02 01/.

Patented Dec. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROL Oscar A. Role,New York, N. Y.

Apphcatlon December 1, 1927. Serial No. 286,981

87 Claim.

This invention refers to colloidal mills and more particularly to thattype of colloidal mill employed for the combined dispersing grinding andmixing of solids with liquids whereby a colloidal suspension oi thesolids in said liquids obtains.

One object of this invention is to provide a colloidal mill wherein aminute adjustment of the dispersing rotors may be obtained whereby asensitive control of the size of the colloids in suspension may beobtained.

Another object is to mount the aforesaid rotors and the driving motorstherefor in a manner whereby a minimum of distortion of the relativedispersion faces of said rotors will obtain.

Another object to provide a colloidal mill wherein the material to bedispersed will be so dispersed in stages, providing a rest, orstabilizing period between each stage during which said material may becooled and allowed to readjust its physical structure before being againtreated in a succeeding stage of dispersion.

Another object is to provide a colloidal mill having dispersion rotorswhich are hollow and through which water or other liquid may becirculated for the purpose of cooling or heating the materials to bedispersed.

Another object is to provide a colloidal mill having rotors wherein thematerials to be dispersed are substantially moved radially with respectto the axis of rotation of said rotors, however, by a novel arrangementproviding a dispersion surface substantially in excess of the actualradial distance between the innermost 35 and outermost dispersionsurfaces of said rotors.

Another object is to provide a colloidal mill wherein the materials tobe dispersed are fed through a stationary hollow tube to the point ofinitial dispersion, in this manner preventing any so tendency forseparation or segregation of premixed materials fed to said mill due tocentrifugal action if said tube were rotated.

Another object is to furnish a novel system of automatic control for thecooling or heating liquid supplied to the aforesaid rotors whereby asubstantially uniform temperature is maintained during the dispersion ofmaterial; alsoan automatic alarm system whereby an operator is informedof abnormal conditions arising during said dispersion, and, in event oflack of proper attention thereafter, will cause the motors driving saidrotors to be stopped whereby possible damage to said material and rotorswill be prevented.

Another obiect is to furnish novel means for driving material dispersionrotors whereby the material dispersion passageway therebetween will berestrained to unusual uniform dimension circumierentially thereofwhereby a maximum flow of completely dispersed product may be 011- dotained from a colloidal mill. The applicant has discovered that whenmaterial dispersion rotors are driven by belts, ropes, or similar drivesplaced at one side of the mill, the transverse stresses on the rotorsdue to the torque of the belts causes as a deflection of the axes of therotors thereby also deflecting the material dispersion members in thismanner producing a comparatively small material dispersion passagewaybetween the members on the torque producing side of the mill to and acomparatively large passageway on the diametrically opposite sidethereof. This distortion may even act to cause rubbing of the members onthe torque side of the mill. Such non-uniformity of the passageway tendsto produce non-uniformly dispersed finished product.

Another object is to furnish material dispersion rotors the shaftportions of which are comparatively large in diameter and ofcomparatively rugged construction whereby the whipping and so torsionalstresses are minimized, thereby further assuring a uniform width of thematerial dispersion passageway between the rotors. I

other objects and advantages will appear as the description of theinvention progresses, and Bi the novel features of the invention will bepointed out in the appended claims.

This invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement ofparts hereinafter described, delineated in the accompanying drawto ings,and particularly pointed out in that portion of the instrument whereinpatentable novelty is claimed for certain and peculiar features of theinvention, it being understood that, within, the scope of whathereinafter thus is claimed, divers as changes in the form. proportions.size and minor details of the device and system of control therefore maybe made without departing from the spirit of, or sacrificing any of thedetails of the invention.

In describing the invention in detail, reference is had to theaccompanying drawings wherein I have illustrated embodiments of myinvention, and wherein like characters of reference designatecorresponding parts" through the several 106 views, and in which:-

Figurelisasectionalpartviewof custom of colloidal mill and is taken online 1-1 of FigureiandFigure 2,is aside elevationalviewofa complete milland is taken on line II-Ii of Fig- 11 ure3,and1"igure3isanendviewofthesame taken on line III-III of Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a partsectional, part eievational view of the same mill taken on line IV-IV ofFigure l, and Figure 5, is a part sectional view of one form ofdispersion rotors, and is an enlarged view of the similar rotors shownin Figure 1, and Figure 8, is a similar part sectional view of amodified form of rotors, and Figure 7, is still another part sectionalview of a modified form of rotors, and Figure 8, is a sectional view ofthe rotor adjustment apparatus, and is taken on line VIII-VIII of Figure1 and, Figure 9 is a part sectional view of a modified form of colloidalmill, and Figure 10, is a diagrammatic view of a control system forcolloidal mills, and Figure 11, is another diagrammatic view of a systemof dispersion with colloidal mills.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the collodial mill 1 comprisesbase 2 on which are suitably secured dispersion rotor unit 3,hereinafter termed rotor unit, motor units 4-4, micrometer adjustmentand thrust bearing units 5-5, hereinafter termed micrometer units, andcooling liquid and material inlet units 6-5. Figure 1 representssubstantially a sectional view of the right hand one half of a completemill as shown in Figure 2.

Rotor unit 8 comprises rotor housings 35 and 'i matingly related and aresecured together by bolts 9-9. Each housing, as 35 and "l have a bearingsupporting bore 8 adapted to radially support but permit axial movementof the outer race of ball bearing 10; and annular cooling liquidreservoir 11, receiving said liquid through orifices 12-12 of gland 13and discharging said liquid through orifice 14 into pipe 15.

Bearing 10 is oiled by cup 16, washer 1'! acts as a dirt guard thereforand orifice 18 drains surplus oil therefrom. Housing has a finishedmaterial orifice 19 into which discharge pipe 200 is secured. Each ofsaid housings have a threaded sleeve portion 20, receiving gland nut 21adapted torestrain packing 22, and gland is to the left against packing23, gland 13 floating between said packlngs but guided by said sleeveportion. Said housings also have a male mating face 24 adapted tonon-rigidly support motor ventilating rings 25-25 having male flanges25a and female flanges 25b.

Motors 4-4, comprise stator 26, having frames 27-27 suitably secured tobase 2 and provided with female mating faces 29-28 adapted to nonrigidlyreceive the male ends 250-254: of ventilating rings 25-25, also drivingrotor 29, rigidly secured to tubular extension 106 of dispersion rotorunits 91 and 92. The motors 4-4 may be electric motors of any well knowntype and'as shown is standard General Electric three phase inductionmotors receiving current through cable 114 passing into conduit 115.

The micrometer units 5-5 comprise housing 92, suitably secured to base2, the male flange 98 of which is adapted to non-rigidly receive femaleflange 25b of ventilating ring 25 and the female flange 34 of thecooling liquid and mate rial inlet unit 6, secured by bolts 80-85. Saidunits also comprise tubular portion 87 adaptedtoreceivethrustbearingimitsasaldlastnamed unit, having circumferentialand axial movement in said tubular portion, the circumferential movementbeing caused by rotation of worm so, moimtedonshaftmoperatinginbearlngsil and42.andbetweenwhicharealsoballthrust bearing 43-43. bearing 41being permanently secured in boss 44 by threads 45,.and bearing 42 beingadjustably secured in boss 46 by threads 4'7 and lock nut 48 (see Figure8), said worm acting on teeth 49 and causing circumferential movement ofsaid unit and said last named movement causing axial movement of saidunit by screwing in or out of threads 50. For example, the normal sizeof mill 1 is preferably approximately three times the dimensions showingin Figure 1, therefore assuming a 12 pitch tooth there would beapproximately ninety teeth, as 49 and assuming sixteen pitch threads as50, one revolution of worm 39 would axially advance unit 38, .0007inches; dial 51, secured to boss 44. and over the face of which pointer52, secured to head 53 of shaft 40, is adopted to travel is preferablydivided into one hundred g'raduations and therefore each increment ofmovement of said pointer will advance said unit .000007 of an inch.Further description in connection with the rotor units 91 and 92 willdisclose that their construction will permit of an even finer adjustmentbetween their respective dispersing surfaces. Tubular portion 87 is alsoadapted to support bearing 55 in machined bore 56, the outer race 57 ofwhich has axial movement in said bore, and is protected against foreignmatter by. washer- 58 rigidly secured in said bore.

Thrust bearing unit 88 comprises shell 80 having stop flange 01 andaxial adiustment flange 62 195 threaded externally to screw threads 50,and internally to receive lock nu 53-63 adapted to clamp stationarythrust washers 64-04 between sleeve 65 and against stop flange 61. Saidunit also comprises rotating thrust collar 818 1 snugly fitting overmachined sub-extension 108 of rotor unit 91 and is rigidly secured tosaid extension by lock nuts 67-67 acting to clamp said thrust collar,washer 08 and inner race 69, of bearing 55 against shoulder 109 of saidrotor unit. Balls 98 interposed between collar 68 and collars 64-04 actto move collar 55 and its depending parts, as rotor 91, axially, when,and as unit 39 is similarly axially moved.

Cooling liquid and material inlet unit 6 comprises housing 72 havingmale flange portion 73 adapted to mate with female portion 34 of unit 5;machined boss 74 in which one end of water tube '15 is rigidly secured;tubular portion '76 mnchined internally to permit axial movement of 135one end of material tube '7'? and threaded externally to receive nut 78adapted to restrain gland '79, supporting rotatable fitting 89 (seeFigure 4), terminating in pipe 81, against packing 82. Housing 72 alsocomprises water inlet chamber 83 communicating to pipe 04 throughorifice 85. Material tube 77 is restrained against circumferentialmovement by pin 86 secured thereto and adapted to have axial movement inslot 87.

Radially supported by bearings 10-10 and 55-55 and axially guided bythrust bearing units 38-38 are dispersion rotor units 90 and 91hereinafter termed rotors, said rotors being similar in form except asto dispersion disks 92 and 98. 140 Said rotors comprise housing 94having male flange 95 adapted to mate and be suitably secured to femaleflange 96 of dispersion disk supporting plate 97, also the tubularportion 98, the shoulder 99 of which is machined to rigidly re- 145ceive inner race 100 of bearing 10 and is drilled to receive one end ofstuds 101-101 interposed between said portion and plate 9'! and adaptedto support cooling iiquid guide balile plate 102, the center tubularportion 108 of which is adaptmamas ed to act as a bearing guide for theexit end 104 of water tube 75. Tubular portion 98 also has radiallydisposed cooling liquid outlet orifices 105-105 adapted to pass thecooling liquid to theopenings 12 of gland 13 and thence to chamber 11and pipe 15, said rotor housing also has reduced tubularextension 106 towhich motor rotor $1 29 is-suitably rigidly secured; also a second ref'duced tubular portion 108 and shoulder 109 to which as hereintoi'oredescribed is secured bearing 55 and thrust collar 66; also a glandadapted to restrain packing 111 against cooling liquid tube 75, byaction of gland nut 112.

To the exit end 118 of material delivery tube 77 is rigidly securedcollar 117 (Figures 1 and 5) the face 118 of which is adapted to bear onface 119 of gland nut 120 rigidly secured to orifice 121 in dispersiondisk support plate 97, springs 122-122 acting to cause said faces toengage with each other.

Dispersion disks 93 and 94 comprise continuous circumferential beveledmating projections 125-125 adjoining each other. each having a pair ofdispersion faces 126 and 127. The base of each of said adjoiningprojection is joined by a groove, as 128. At the apex of each of saidprojections is another groove 129, rigidly secured in which, is acontinuous band or baille ring 130. The material to be treated enters atthe inner groove 131 and leaves at the peripherial groove 132.

Referring to Figure 6 showing modified dispersion disks 135 and 136, thedispersion faces 137 and 138 are all arranged substantially in a radialplane, however their continuity is intercepted by grooves 138w-138a andcontinuous baflle rings 139-139 rigidly secured in grooves 140-140. Thematerial to be dispersed enters at groove 141 and leaves at peripherialgroove 142.

Referring to Figure 7 showing still another modified form of rotors 145and 146, the projections 147-147 are similar to projections 125, howeverare angularly more acute, in this manner not only increasing the linealdispersing surface for a given radial distance, but also permitting theomission of bailles, as 130, the apex 148 moving in groove 149 acting assaid bailles. The material enters at groove 150 and leaves at groove151.

Referring to the modified form of colloidal mill 159, shown in Fig. 9,the rotor housings and 161, the latter not shown, are similar tohousings 7 and 35, however are modified to omit the cooling liquidreceiving chamber 11 and the inclusion of a modified micrometer unit, as162, the machined flanges 163 and 164 of which are adapted to snuglyenter machined bore 165 of rotor housing 160 and is adapted to beallocated by dowel screw 166 locked by nut 167. Micrometer unit 162 alsocomprises a thrust bearing unit 168. Similar in structure and functionto unit 38, and actuated by a worm as 39, the revolving thrust collar169 of which is clamped against spacing collar 170 impinging against theinner race of bearing 10, by lock nuts 171-171.

The bearing and gland unit 175, supplants the micrometer unit 5 ofFigures 1, 2, 3 and 4, and comprises housing 176 having male flange 177adapted to non-rigidly mate with one end of frame 25, and female flange178 adapted to mate with male fiange 73 of cooling liquid and materialinlet unit 6. Housing 176 also comprises tubular portion 180, radiallysupporting the outer race of bearing 10, in machine bore 183 butpermitting axial movement thereof between protection washers 181 and 182secured in said bore. Said housing also comprises internally machinedand threaded gland portion 184, supporting gland nut 185 adapted torestrain packing 186 against rotor unit 195. Orifice 187 acts to drainsurplus oil and foreign matter from hearing compartment 188.

The inner race of bearing 10 of unit 175 is rigidly secured to sleeve189, washer 190 rigidly secured thereto acting to clamp said bearingagainst shoulder 191, said sleeve having slots as 192 adapted to engagepins 193 and restrain said sleeve bearing 10 and washer 190 to rotatewith rotor unit 195. Housing 176 is also provided with chamber 179adapted to receive the cooling liquid from orifice 199 of rotor unit195.

Dispersion rotor units 195 and 196, the latter not being shown, aresimilar to rotors 91 and 92, however are modified by omission of coolingliquid outlet orifices 105-105, reallocation of collar 169 of the thrustbearing unit, as 168 on tubular portion 197, and the omission of gland110, the tubular extention 198 being maintained substantially the sameinternal diameter as portion 197. The external diameter of said tubularportions are comparatively minutely graduated, the largest stepreceiving inner race of bearing 10, the next smaller collar 169, thenext rotor 179, and the last bearing sleeve 189.

Referring to Figure 10, material to be dispersed in mill 1 entering bypipe 81 may be supplied from pipe 204 by pump 200, driven by motor 201controlled by speed control unit 202, actuated by lever 203, thelowering of said lever decreasing said speed and raising of said leverincreasing said speed.

Cooling or heating liquid is supplied to mill through pipe 84 as will bemore fully hereinafter described. After the cooling or heating liquidhereinafter termed "water" has passed through mill 1, as will also bemore fully hereinafter described, it is withdrawn through pipes 15-15 bypumps 205-205 driven by motors 206-206 said pumps acting at all times todevelop a partial vacuum within the water circulating system of saidmill. From pumps 205-205 said water is conveyed through pipes 207-207 tothermocontrol units 208W-208W comprising housing 209 having intakeorifice 210 receiving pipe 207,

and outlet orifice 211, connected to discharge pipe 212, and to thebottom of which is secured one end of sylphon 213, the other or one endbeing restrained downwards by spring 228. adjusted by threaded sleeve229 and has secured thereto, rod

214, insulatively supporting contact dish 215 restrained upwardly byspring 216 against collar 217 secured to said rod, said rod alsoinsulatively supporting contact disk 218 restrained downwardly, toclosed circuit position, by spring 219 arranged between said last nameddisk and collar 220 secured to said rod, collar 221, also secured tosaid rod being adapted .to raise said last named disk upon apredetermined upward movement of said rod. Cover 222 suitably secured tohousing 209 acts to seal chamber 223 and through through pipe 233 withvalve 231 open. Valve 231 is adapted to open as rod 214 is raised andclosed as said rod] is'lowered. Said valve preferably has a leakagegroove whereby a comparatively small quantity of said liquidcontinuously passes therethrough to mill 1. Said unit also has one endof bifurcated lever 238 pivotally secured to collar 220 and the otherend pivoted to rod 203 adapted to actuate speed control units 202-202,said lever is pivotally mounted on pin 236, said material dischargesthrough pipe 237.

The operation of applicant improved colloidal mill is asfollowsz-referrlng to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and rotors 90 and 91 arerotated in reverse directions, the speed being selected for theparticular materials which said mill is to treat, said speed beingpreferably 1800 R. P. M. when dispersion conditions will so permit.

The material to be treated may be supplied in two forms, for example iian enamel, the pigment may be supplied mixed in a light solvent to oneend of the mill through pipe 81 and the varnish or body material throughpipe 81 of the other end of said mill, said materials passing throughfittings 80-80 into interior of material tube 77 and thence axially asshown by arrows to chamber 89 and thence radially to groove 131 wheredispersion between surfaces 126 and 127 begins, the material finallyreaching the first or innermost cooling and stabilizing, hereinaftertermed stabilizing, groove 128, where a comparatively slow movement ofthe material ob tains, baiiie ring 130 causing said material to take acomparatively long path whereby its heat or cold may be absorbed by thematerial of disk 94,

and the highly agitated solid particles allowed to stabilize theirmolecular structure, and whereafter it again is further dispersed byanother pair of dispersion faces, as 126 and 127 and whereafter it againpasses to another stabilizing groove, as 128 and is again stabilized"before the succeeding dispersion stage, eight such stabilizing and ninesuch dispersion stages being shown as forming part of the structure ofdispersion disks 93 and 94, said material finally leaving by groove 132from whence it is thrown against the interior oi housings 7 and 35 andfinally gravitates to chamber 19 and pipe 20 wherealter it passes pastvalve 235 to thermounit 203 to and around it sylphon 213 acting on thevapors contained therein as will be more fully hereinafter described.

Itwillbe notedthatthcmaterialdurlng the dispersion process has moveddiagonally radially, and whereas the material exists from dispersiondisks 93 and 94 on substantially the some radial plane as when itentered said disks, it has moved over a lineal dispersion distancesubstantially in excess of the distance represented by a straight radialline between said material exit and entrance.

Manymaterials evolvemorcorlcuheat indicpersion as hereintoi'oredescribed. whereas in other materials it is necessary to add heat to ormaintain a substantially uniform heat of said material during thedispersion process.

To accomplish such heating or cooling, water, or other cooling liquid orgas, hereinafter termed "water, is fed as will be morcjully hereinafterdescribed through pipes 34-24 to chambers 83-83 and thence to theinterior of cooling liquid tubes 75-75 surrounding material tubes 17-77,as shown by the several arrows, thereafter passing into annular chamber123 between dispersion disk supporting plates 97-07, thence outwardlyradially and around the outer edge of baille'platc 102, thence inwardlyradially through chamber 124 into the interior of tubular portion 98where the centrifugal action caused by the rotation thereof, causes saidwater to assume a tubular column as shown by dash lines 133-133, andwhereby said water is restrained outwardly through openings 12-12 inglands 13-13, finally passing into chambers 11-11, and pipes 15-15 topumps 205-205 and thence to thermounits 208W-208W as will be more fullyhereinafter described.

It will be noted that annular chamber 123 is tapered, this taper beingpreferably proportioned whereby the volume of the water at any givenradial distance will be substantially uniform as it is moved radiallyoutwardly, in this manner assuring that the exposed surfaces ofdispersion disk support plates 97-97 will be in contact with said waterwhereby a maximum of heat or cold may be absorbed therefrom for thepurpose of thermostatically acting on the material being ground bydispersion disks as'33 and 94; 135 and 136 or 145 and 146, the coolingor heating action of said water being communicated through the metal ofplates 97-97 to the metal, or other material of said dispersion disksand thence to said material being ground, or stabilized, a portion ofsaid cooling, or heating action beim also communicated through theflanges 35 and '96 of rotor housings 94-94 and said plates.

The gland 110, packing 111 and nut 112 act to prevent air being drawninto the interior of rotor housings 94 and and thence to pipes 15-15. 1

The gland 13, packings 22 and 23 and nut 21 act to likewise prevent airentering chambers 11-11 and pipes 15-15 by action of pumps 205-205.

The dispersion rotor ,units 91 and 92 are adapted to be moved axially bythe fitting of a suitable keyover the head 53 of shaft 40, and rotationor 118 said shaft and worm 39, in this manner causing rotation of one ofthrust bearing units, as 38, the rotation of said units in threads 50causing an axial movement of said unit, said movement being communicatedthrough bails 88-88 to thrust m collars 66-66 rigidly secured to saidrotor units, whereas, as heretorore described, each increment ofmovement oi pointer 52 is adapted to cause .000007 inch axial movementsaid thrust bearing units and therefore a similar movement or saiddispersion rotor units, the actual variation of thelinesldistanccatright angles tothedispersion surfaces, as 126 and 127 is substantiallyless, this variation being prop rtional to the sins of the anglefmdbythcaxis ofrotationofsald 180 rotors and and surfaces.

Referring particularly to Figures 10 and 11 showing applicant's novelcontrol system for colloidalmills, thematcriahtobedlspersedmaybesupplied by gravity from a reservoir not shown ori'romaprlmarycolloidalmilLasln (Figure 11) entering mill 1, assumed tobe in operation. through pipe 224 adapted to be controllcdby valve 234,or, may be supplied by pumps. as, 200-200, leaving mill 1 by pipe 20,adapted to be controlled by valve 235 and passing to and throughthermocontrol unit 2083! and thence to discharge pipe. or reservoir 231.As said material passes through thermocontrol unit 2031! 5 thetemperature thereof is adapted to act on sylphon 213 therein, anincrease of temperature of saidmaterinlactingtoraiserod214anditsdepending parts including stem 230 of valve 231.

The tension of spring 228 acting on the free 150 nos-mas end of sylphon213, is adjusted by sleeve 220 whereby the rod 214 and itsdependingparts remain substantially as shown in the drawings when the finishedmaterial passing through thermounit 208M is of the desired'temperature.It for any reason said temperature should rise, the liquid, or vapors insylphon 213 will be expanded, thereby causing rod 214 and-its dependingparts to move upwardly until contact disk 215 establishes a circuit asfollows:-

Alarm circuit from positive energy to wire 240, disk 215, wire 241,alarm 242 and wire 243 to negative energy, in this manner callingattention to an attendant of an abnormal condition in mill 1. It saidattendant fails to observe said alarm and correct said abnormalcondition, and if for any reason said condition becomes more abnormaland whereby said temperature of said material is still further raised, afurther expansion of said liquid or vapors in sylphon 213 causes afurther upward movement of rod 214 and its depending parts, and wherebycollar 221 is caused to raise contact disk 218, in this mannerinterrupting the following circuit:-

No voltage relay circuit from positive energy, wire 244, disk 218, wire245, disk 218 of right hand thermo-um't 208W, wire 246, disk 218 of lefthand thermo-unit 208W, wire 24'? and wires 248 and 249 to 'no voltagerelays 226-226 in multiple, and thence to negative energy; as thiscircuit is opened the no voltage relays 226-226 act to stop motors 4-4of mill 1 in known manner and the dispersion process will stop, andbefore said mill can again be placed in operation it will be necessaryto manually operate starters 225-225 in known manner.

The cooling water discharging from pipes 15-15 is similarly adapted tocontrol mill 1 by thermo-units. as 208W-208W, the water discharged intosaid pipes being passed to and through said units by pumps 205-205 andthence to waste pipes, or reservoirs 212-212. Again assuming mill 1 tobe in normal operation, and the water discharged by pipes 15-15 to be ofnormal temperature, the rods 214--214 01 said units and their dependingparts will be substantially as shown in the drawings. If for any reasonan abnormal condition arises in said mill and whereby the temperature ofsaid water is abnormally increased, either one, or both rods 214 willmove upwardly thereby causing disk 215 to establish the hereintoforedescribed "alarm circult to be sounded calling attention to saidabnormal condition and, should the attendant fail to remedy the causefor said abnormality, a further predetermined increase of temperature ofsaid water will act to raise one, or both contact disks 218-218 of saidunits, thereby opening the aforesaid "no voltage circuit and motors 4-4will both be stopped, and must be manually started before said mill canagain be placed in o eration.

The cooling water to mill 1, is preferably supplied to pipes 84-84 by avalve as 231 adapted to vary the flow of said water to said mill tocompensate for ordinary variations in temperature of the water suppliedto said mill, for exmovement of rod 214 of thermo-unit, 208M sufilcientto slightly further open valve 231, but not sufllciently to establishthe "alarm circuit by disk 215, or open the "no voltage circuit byraising disk 218 of said thermo-unit.

Thermo-unit 208M is also adopted to control the quantity of material tobe supplied to a colloid mill, as 1, by lever 238 and rod 203 adapted toactuate speed control units 202-202, for example, if the temperature ofthe finished material passing through said unit is lowered, rod 214 ismoved downwardly and rod 203 upwardly, in this manner causing controlunits 202-202 to increase the speed of motors 201-201 driving pumps200-200 and therefore more raw materials will be supplied to said mill,and conversely as said temperature is increased, rod 203 is lowered andmotors 201-201 slowed down to decrease said supply of raw materials tosaid mill.

Referring particularly to Figure 11 showing a process for dispersingmaterials by colloidal mills, as for example paints, or enamels, thecolloidal mill 1A is adapted to receive pigment to be dispersed throughmaterial inlet pipe 81L, and a solvent or thinner having a high affinitytherefore through pipe 81R, whereafter said pigment is dispersed in saidsolvent in said mill the purpose being primarily to reduce said pigmentto colloidal state in suspension in said thinner or solvent, whereaftersaid colloidal mixture passes through pipe 20 to a thermo-unit, as 208M,and

pipe 224 to material inlet 81L of colloidal mill 13 whereas the paint,or enamel body, as oil, or varnish, is fed to the similar pipe 81R ofsaid last named mill, said mixture and said oil, or varnish beingfurther dispersed by said last named mill, and whereafter the finishedproduct, as for example paint, or enamel, passes through pipe 20 andthermo-unit 208M to pipe or reservoir, as 250 for distribution, orfurther treatment, for example, with certain pigments it is desirable toadd a surplus of thinner, or solvent, during the primary dispersionstage in mill 1A. Under such conditions, and after the such finishedproduct issues from pipe 250, it is further desirable to remove saidsurplus thinner or solvent by driving said solvent off by artificialevaporation, or partial distillation, simultaneously recovering saidsolvent in a manner similar to that shown in Patent #1,345,083 issued toGerli and Ross on June 29th, 1920.

Whereas not shown, it is understood that mills as 1A and 1B are suppliedwith suitable controls apparatus and circuits therefor, as shown inFigure 10.

Whereas thermo-units 208W and 208M have been shown as acting to preventa rise in temperature beyond a predetermined limit, it is obvious thatsaid units may be modified whereby sylphon 213 may be made to raise rod214 as the free end thereof is lowered by lowering of temperature of thefinished material passing therethrough, in this manner assuring that acolloidal mill as 1 will be supplied-with conditioning liquid of notless than a predetermined temperature.

Whereas for clearer illustration the thermounits 208W and 208M have beenshown as having sylphon 213 directly acted upon by the liquids ormaterial passing through said units, sylphon valves of known form may beemployed and the 1 thermostatic bulbs therefor may be arranged in theoutlet flow of said finished material, and said water.

The dispersion rotors as 93 and 94; and 136; and and 146 are preferablyof hardened steel and the dispersion surfaces thereof may be plated orcovered with an even harder substance, as for example chromium. Due tothe high rotative speeds when dispersing, the liquid portions of thematerial to be treated adheres to the dispersion surfaces and acts as aninsulator preventing abrasion, or substantial wear of said dispersionsurfaces, any grinding or reduction of the solids particles into smallerparticles if noncurrent with dispersion being accomplished by thecollision of said particles during transit between the dispersionsurfaces as 126 and 127 as the dispersion action is accomplished.

The dispersion disks shown in Figure 6, are preferably employed wherethe proportion of actual grinding, or reduction of coarser materials maynot be as important as a thorough dispersion of the solids and liquids,whereas the dispersion disks shown in Figure 7, are preferably employedwhen exceedingly fine pigments are to be more thoroughly dispersedwhereby the pigment particles are completely suspended in the liquid incolloidal form.

If desired the stabilizing grooves, as 128, 138 or 149 may be madedeeper as they progress outwardly as shown by the dotted grooves152-152, the modified baflle rings 153-153 being made correspondinglywider as shown in the dotted form. Further, said grooves may be madeprogressively deeper beginning with the innermost groove to theoutermost, the latter being the deepest, in this manner permittingprogressively greater stabilizing of the active material as it movesoutwardly during the dispersion process. It is to be noted that thecircumferential speed of the outer dispersion surfaces, as 126 and 127is in excess of the similar speed of the inner of said surfaces. Whendispersing certain materials the heat evolved in the dispersing processis likewise progressively increased as the active material movesoutwardly and the absorption thereof may be progressively assumed by thehereintofore mentioned progressively arranged deeper grooves as 152 andthe progressively arranged wider rings as 153.

By the term treatment, dispersion grinding and or mixing is implied thatthe solid materials may be simultaneously dispersed and ground in theliquid during the dispersion action. The particles of some pigments, asfor example, certain lamp blacks, are structurally so fine that theimportant accomplishment is to isolate each and all of said particlesone from another and surround said isolated particles with a liquid toproduce a colloidal suspension thereof. In the treatment of suchmaterials, dispersion only occurs, whereas in coarse pigments somegrinding occurs.

Water will normally seek its own level whether by gravity or centrifugalaction. It will be noted that the water entering chamber 123 from watertube 75, enters at a lesser radius than the water leaving chamber 124and passing to tubular portion 98 of grinding rotor 91, therefore,centrifugal action assumed, and speaking in terms of gravitation, thehigher level of the water in chamber 123 will act to restrain the waterin said chamber to pass to chamber 124 as shown by the arrows whereaftercentrifugal action again assumed, it passes in tubular form to openings105-105; 12-12 and chamber 11 to discharge pipe 15 the partial vacuumestablished by pumps 205-205 assisting in this action.

Referring to the modified form of colloidal mill 159, shown inFlgure 9,the material to be treated is supplied to, is treated. and leaves saidmill in 1,9sv,7sa

the same manner as hereintofore described in connection with Figures 1,2, 3, 4 and 5.

The cooling, or heating water is likewise supplied to said mill in thesame manner up to and including chamber 124, whereafter said water movesas a tubular column, centrifugal action being assumed, along tubularportions 197 and 198 of grinding rotors 195 and 196 leaving at openings199-199 thereafter passing to chambers 179-179 and thence by gravity todischarge pipes 15-15 as shown by the several arrows.

The axial movement of rotors 195 and 196 for dispersion adjustment isaccomplished by rotation of worm 39 in a similar manner as hereintoforedescribed in connection with Figures 1, 3 and 8, the rotation of saidworm acting on teeth 172 of thrust bearing unit 168, causing rotationthereof and through threads 173, a simultaneous axial movement thereof,said axial movement acting through balls 174-174 to cause axial movementof thrust collar 169 rigidly secured to said dispersion rotor.

The driving motor 4 having rotor 159 is similar to motor 4 and rotor 29of Figures 1 and 2, however rotor 159 has a larger bore to accommodatethe larger tubular section 198 of grinding rotors 195 and 196.

Itistobenotedthat,abearingas 10,hasbeen placed as closely adjacent thedispersion faces of rotors 195 and 196 as substantial structure willpermit, also that thrust bearing unit 168 has likewise been placed asclose to said bearing as substantial structure will permit, in otherwords the radial dispersion plane and the thrust hearing adjustmentplanes are comparatively close together. Such an arrangement isdesirable when extremely close regulation of the quality of the finishedmaterial is desired. It is to be noted that by placing the said thrustbearing unit as closely adjacent the radial dispersion plane aspossible, a minimum of axial structure, as metal, obtains between saidunit and said dispersion faces, and therefore a minimum of expansion orcontraction of said structure will obtain due to temperaturevariationthereof which might cause a variation of the distance betweensaid dispersion surfaces and therefore a variation in the quality of thefinished material ground thereby.

By the novel arrangement of securing the driving elements, as 29-159 ofthe motors 4 directly to the rotors, as -91 and 195-196, the torqueapplied by said driving elements is wholly circumferential, therefore noradial deflection of said rotors will occur to produce distortion of thematerial dispersion passageway between said rotors. Said passagewaydistortion is further minimized by the comparatively large diameter andrugged construction of the shaft portions of the rotor members 94-95 and195-196 thereby substantially annulling the whipping" and torsionaldeflections thereof.

By the term stabilizing" is also included the absorption and dispersionof ionization of the solid particles during the material dispersionprocess. It has been reasonably established that continuous collision ofcolloids tend to produce ionization thereof, and under which conditionsaid colloids may unite in crystalline formations and produceundesirable and noticeable particles in the tlnished products.

If desired the baiile rings as 130 or 153 may be insulatively supportedand electrical energy supplied thereto for the purpose of still furtherdispersing said ionization.

What I claim is:-

1. A colloidal mill comprising in combination; relatively rotatablematerial treatment rotors, dispersion faces formed thereon in concentricrows thereon, the rows of one rotor being arranged in dispersionrelation to the rows of the other rotor, non-material dispersionadvancing passageways formed in concentric rows on the rotorsalternately with the dispersion faces, the dispersion faces and thepassageways being arranged whereby the material is advanced from one setof dispersion faces to a passageway in one rotor alternately withadvancement thereof from similar faces to a passageway in the oppositerotor, means for rotatably supporting the rotors, means for rotating therotors relatively, means for supplying material to the dispersion faces,and means for conveying the treated material discharged by therotors tothe exterior of the mill.

2. A colloid mill comprising in combination; relatively rotatablematerial treatment members positioned to form a material treatmentpassage therebetween, dispersion faces formed thereon in concentricrows, the rows of one member being arranged in juxtaposition to similarfaces of the other member whereby the material treatment passageway isformed therebetweem' grooves formed in one of the members arranged inconcentric rows alternately between the dispersion faces, annular bafliemembers formed on the other material treatment member extending into andbifurcating the grooves whereby material advancing and stabilizingpassageways are formed altere nately between the rows of dispersionsurfaces, means for rotatably supporting the material treatment members,means for rotating the members relatively, means for supplying materialto the material treatment passage way for treatment, and means forconducting the treated material therefrom to the exterior of the mill.

3. A colloid mill comprising in combination; relatively rotatablematerial treatment members positioned to form a material treatmentpassageway therebetween, wedge shaped annular projections formed thereonin concentric rows whereby annular wedge shaped troughs are formedbetween adjacent rows of the projections, the rows of projections of onemember being matingly positioned in the troughs of the other member toform dispersion passageways therebetween, nonmaterial dispersionpassageways formed at the bottoms of the troughs communicating with thedispersion passageways for effectinga comparatively slow movement of thematerial therein as it is advanced from one dispersion passageway toanother, means for rotatably supporting the members, means for rotatingthe members rela tively, means for supplying material to the materialtreatment passageway for treatment, and means for conducting the treatedmaterial therefrom to the exterior of the mill."

4. A colloidal mill comprising in combination: relatively rotatablematerial treatment members positioned to form a material treatmentpassageway therebetwe'en, tubular extensions formed thereon havingoriflced end portions, housing surrounding the oriflced end portionsarranged to eflect a closure thereover, tubular members supported .bythe housings extending through the tubular extensions to the materialtreatment passageway arranged to supply material to the passageway fortreatment, tubular members supported by the housings spacedlysurrounding the material supply tubular members arranged to supply aheat exchange liquid adjacent the material treatment passageway andthence to the interior of the tubular extensions by flow thereof throughthe space formed between the tubular members, means for rotatablysupporting the material treatment members, means for rotating themembers relatively, means for supplying material to the material supplytubular members, means for supplying a heat exchange liquid to the heatexchange liquid supply tubular members, means for conducting the liquidfrom the tubular extensions, and means for conducting the treatedmaterial discharged by the treatment passageway to the exterior of themill.

5. A colloid mill comprising in combination; relatively rotatablematerial treatment members positioned to form a material treatmentpassageway therebetween, tubular extensions formed thereon havingorificed end portions, housings for rotatably supporting the orificedend portions having chambers therein arranged in communication with theorifices, housings supported by the orificed end portion housings havingchambers therein arranged to receive a heat exchange liquid thereinto,means supported by the last named housings for conducting the liquidfrom the chambers therein adjacently to the material treatmentpassageway and thence through the orifices to the first named chambers,means for supplying a heat exchange liquid to the heat exchange liquidchambers, means for conducting the liquid from the first named chambersto the exterior of the mill, means for rotatably supporting thetreatment members, means for rotating the members relatively, means forsupplying material to the treatment passageway for treatment thereby,and means for conducting the treated material discharged therefrom tothe exterior of the mill.

6. A colloidal mill comprising in combination; relatively rotatablematerial treatment members positioned to form a material treatmentpassageway therebetween, a material receiving chamber formed between themembers positioned adjacent the material receiving end of the treatmentpassageway, rotatable chambered rotor members for supporting thetreatment members having orifices communicating to the chambers therein,material supply members positioned within the chambers having thematerial receiving end portions thereof extending through andterminating exteriorly oi the orifices and the discharge ends thereofarranged to discharge the material into the receiving chamber of thematerial treatment members, means for rotatably supporting the chamberedrotor members, means for rotating the members relatively, means forsupplying material to the material supply members for passage to thetreatment passageway, and means for conducting the treated materialdischarged thereby to the exterior of the mill.

. 7. A colloidal mill comprising, *a chambered rotor member having aheat exchange portion formed at one end thereof, a material treatmentsurface formed on the outer face of the heat exchange portion beingarranged to rotate relatively to a correlated surface whereby a materialtreatxnent passageway is formed therebetween, a heat exchange surfaceformed in the inner face of the heat exchange portion positioned incommunication with the rotor chamber, an annular deflecting memberhaving a centrally disposed opening therein positioned in the chamberadjacent the heat exchange surface arranged to form annular spaceseither side thereof, means for eflecting a flow of heat exchange liquidin the chamber from one annular space to the other through the openingof the deflecting member whereby the liquid is restrained to flowradially in juxtaposition to the heat exchange surface for controllingthe temperature of the material treatment surfaces, means for supplyingmaterial to the treatment passageway for treatment thereby, means forrotatably supporting the rotor member, means for effecting rotationthereof for treating the material, and means for conveying the treatedmaterial from the mill.

8. A colloidal mill comprising, a chambered rotor member having amaterial treatment portion formed at one end thereof arranged to rotaterelatively to a correlated portion whereby a material treatmentpassageway is formed therebetween, a centrally disposed tubular memberfor conducting material therethrough positioned in the chamber of therotor member having one end thereof engaging the material treatmentportion whereby the material is restrained to flow from the tubularmember to the material treatment passageway, another tubular member forconducting a heat exchange liquid spacedly surrounding the first namedtubular member having the inner end thereof extending adjacent to thematerial treatment portion whereby the liquid -flowing from the endportion will be directed thereagainst for eifecting heat transfertherebetween, means for supporting the outer ends of the tubularmembers, means for supplying material to the outer end of the materialtubular member for movement therethrough to the material treatmentpassageway, means for supplying a heat exchange liquid to the outer endof the liquid tubular member for movement therethrough to the materialtreatment portion and thence to the chamber, means for conducting theheat affected liquid from the chamber, means for rotatably supportingthe rotor member, means for effecting rotation thereof for treating thematerial thereby. and means for conveying the treated material from themill.

9. A colloidal mill comprising, a rotatable rotor member having achambered material treatment portion formed thereon arranged to rotaterelatively to a correlated portion whereby a material treatmentpassageway is formed therebetween, a tubular portion formed on the rotormemberhaving one end thereof joined to the material treatment portionand the remote end thereof formed with an orifice communicatingwith thepassageway therein, the passageway also communicating with the chamberof the material treatment portion, a housing member surrounding thematerial treatment portion having a bearing member therein arranged torotatably support the rotor member adjacent the material treatmentpassageway, another housing member surrounding the minced and of thetubular portion having a bearing member therein for rotatably supportingthe remote end of the tubular portion, a motor unit surrounding thetubular portion having the driving element thereof secured to the rotormember positioned between the housing members, means for independentlysupplying material to the material treatment passageway and a heatexchange liquid to the chamber for heat exchange with the materialtreatment portion through the ori. ace of the tubular portion, means forconducting the beat affected liquid from the chamber,

a base member for supporting the motor unit and the housings, and meansfor conveying the treated material from the mill.

10. A colloidal mill comprising, co-axially disposed rotor membershaving adjacently positioned material treatment portions arranged toform a material treatment passageway therebetween and tubular portionsjoined thereto extending in opposite directions therefrom, a basemember, a main housing member supported thereby surrounding, thematerial treatment portions, subsidiary housing members supported by thebase member surrounding the tubular members, the subsidiary housingsbeing positioned each side of the main housing, motor units supported bythe base member surrounding the tubular portions having the drivingelements thereof secured to the tubular portions for effecting rotationof the rotor members, the motor units being positioned between the mainand subsidiary housing members, means supported by the housing membersfor rotatably supporting the rotors, means for supplying material to thematerial treatment passageway for treatment, and means for conveying thetreated material from the mill.

11. A colloidal mill comprising, a rotor member having a materialtreatment surface formed at one end thereof arranged to be rotatedrelatively to a correlated surface whereby a material treatmentpassageway is formed therebetween, a supported bearing membersurrounding the rotor member positioned rearwardly but adjacent thematerial treatment surface end thereof, a supported thrust bearing unitsurrounding the rotor member positioned adjacent rearwardly of thebearing member arranged to effect variable axial movement of the rotormember for varying the size of the material treatment passageway, asupported motor unit surrounding the rotor member positioned rearwardlyof the thrust bearing unit, the driving element of the motor unit beingsecured to the rotor member for effecting the rotation thereof to treatthe material in the passageway therefor, another supported bearingmember surrounding the rotor member positioned rearwardly of the motorunit adjacent the other end of the rotor member, means for supplyingmaterial to the material treatment passageway for treatment and meansfor con- 5 veying the treated material from the mill.

' 12. A rotor for colloidaltmills comprising, an annular portion formedat one end thereof having an annular chamber formed therein, a tubularportion formed at the other end thereof having one end of the passagewaytherein communicating with the annular chamber and the other end thereofterminating in an opening in the protruding end of the tubular portion,a material treatment surface formed on the end 3 face of the annularportion, a centrally disposed oriflce formed in the material treatmentsurface end of the annular portion adjacent to the material treatmentsurface thereon, a material conducting passageway formed in the rotorextending between the orifice and the opening arranged to conductmaterial to the material treatment surface for treatment thereby, a heatexchange liquid passageway formed in the rotor extending from theopening to the annular chamber arranged to conduct heat exchange liquidfrom the opening to the chamber for controlling the temperature of thematerial treatment surfaces, and another heat exchange liquid passagewayfmmedln therotorextending from ass-mes the chamber to the openingarranged to conduct the liquid from the chamber to the opening.

13. A colloidal mill comprising, co-axially disposed rotor membershaving abutting material treatment portions arranged to form a materialtreatment passageway therebetween and tubular portions joined theretoextending in opposite directions therefrom, a main housing membersurrounding the material treatment portions, motor units surrounding therotor members having the driving elements thereof secured to the tubularportions thereof for effecting the rotation thereof, ventilated housingmembers surrounding the rotor members engaging the main housing and themotor units, subsidiary housing members surrounding the outer ends ofthe tubular portions, ventilated housing members surrounding the rotormembers engaging the motor units and the subsidiary housing members, andmeans supported by the housing members for rotatably supporting therotor members.

14. The combination with a colloidal mill arranged to have one or morematerial treatment rotors thereof rotated by motor units connected to asource of energy, of thermostatic means p0- sitioned in the dischargeflow of the material treated by the rotors affected by variation intemperature thereof normally connecting the source to the motor unitsarranged to effect a disconnection therefrom upon an abnormal increaseof temperature of the material in the discharge flow.

15. The combination with a colloid mill having a heat exchange liquidsupplied thereto for controlling the temperature of the materialtreatment surfaces of material treatment rotors supported thereby, therotors being rotated by motor units connected to a source of energy, ofthermostatic means positioned in the discharge flow of the liquid fromthe mill affected by variations in temperature thereof normallyconnecting the source to the motors arranged to effect the disconnectiontherefrom upon an abnormal increase in temperature of the dischargeflow.

16. The combination with a colloidal mill having a heat exchange liquidsupplied from a source thereto for controlling the temperature of thematerial treatment surfacesofthe material treatment rotors supportedthereby, of thermostatic means positioned in the discharge flow of theheat exchange liquid from the mill affected by variations in thetemperature thereof for controlling the flow of the liquid from thesource to the mill arranged to increase the flow of the liquid from thesource to the mill upon an increase in the temperature of the dischargeflow and decrease the,

flow from the source upon adecrease in the temperature thereof.

17. A colloidal mill comprising, relatively rotatable material treatmentmembers arranged to abut one another, a concentric series of wedgeshaped annular projections formed on the abutting faces of the members,the projections of one member being arranged to matingly enter betweenthe projections of the other member, material treatment surfaces formedon the annular projections the surfaces being formed continuouslycircumferentially on the projections and the surface of one member beingpositioned relativey to the surfaces of the other member to form aseries of ighly restricted eways between the inner and outer edges ofthe abutting faces whereby all the material to be treated is constrainedto pass successively therethrough during the relative rotation of themembers. means for rotatablysupportingthemembersto rotate relatively,means for supplying material to the inner edge of the abutting faces fortreatment in the restricted eways, and means for conveying the treatedmaterial from the mill.

18. A colloidal mill comprising, co-axially disposed rotor membershaving abutting material treatment portions formed thereon, the abuttingends thereof forming a material treatment passageway extending betweenthe inner and outer edges thereof, chambered portions formed on therotor imembers rearwardly of the material treatment portions having aheat exchange liquid chamber therein, the chamberedportions havingopenings in the outer ends thereof communicating with the chamber, amaterial receiving chamber formed between the abutting ends of thematerial treatment portions positioned at the inner end of the materialtreatment passageway, orifices formed in the material treatment portionsadjacent the material receiving chamber, tubular members extendingthrough the chambers of the chambered portions, the inner ends thereofbeing supported in the orifices of the material treatment portions andthe outer ends thereof extending through the openings of the chambersand being supported independently of the rotor members, means forsupplying material to the outer ends of the tubular members for flow tothe material receiving chamber, means for supplying a heat exchangeliquid to the chambers for thermally affecting the material in thetubular members and the material treatment passageway, means forrotating the rotor members relatively, and means for conveying thetreated material discharged by the outer end of the material treatmentpassageway from the mill.

19. A colloidal mill comprising, co-axially disposed rotor membershaving abutting material treatment portions formed thereon, the abuttingends thereof forming a material treatment pas sageway extending betweenthe inner and outer edges thereof, chambered portions formed in therotor members rearwardly of the material treatment portions having aheat exchange liquid chamber therein, the chambered portions havingopenings in the outer ends thereof communicating with the chamber, amaterial receiving chamber formed between the abutting ends of thematerial treatment portions positioned at the inner end of the materialtreatment passageway, orifices formed in the material treatment portionsadjacent the material receiving chamber, nonrotatable tubular membersextending through the chambers of the chambered portions between theorifices of the material treatment portions and the openings of thechambered portions, the inner ends thereof communicating with thematerial receiving chamber, means ted with the orifices of the materialtreatment portions for rotatably supporting the inner ends of thetubular members therein, means for fixedly supporting the outer ends ofthe tubular members independently of the rotor members adjacent theopenings of the chambered portions, means for supp y n material to theouter ends of the tubular members for movement to the material receivingchamber, meansfor supplying a heat exchange liquid to the heat exchangechamber for thermally affecting thematerlal in the tubular members andthe material treatment passageway, means for rotating the rotor membersrelatively. and means ferconveying the treated material discharged bythe material treatment passageway from the mill.

20. A colloidal mill comprising, co-axially disposed rotor membershaving chambered material treatment portions formed on the abutting endsthereof, material treatment surfaces formed on the abutting endsarranged to form a material treatment passageway between the inner andouter edges thereof, cylindrical portions formed on the rotor membershaving one end of the bores therein communicating with the chambers ofthe material portions and an opening formed at the other ends thereof, aheat exchange portion formed on the abutting ends between the materialtreatment surfaces and the chambers for effecting heat transfertherebetween, a material conveying member extending through the chamberand the bore having the inner end thereof communicating with the innerend of the material treatment passageway through the heat exchangeportion and the outer end thereof extending through the openings in thebore, means for circulating a heat exchange liquid in the chamber incontact with the heat exchange portion and the material conveyingmember, means for eifecting a flow of material through the materialconveying member to the material passageway for treatment therein, andmeans for rotating the rotor members relatively for treating thematerial in the passageway.

21. A colloidal mill comprising, co-axially disposed rotor membershaving material treatment surfaces formed on the abutting ends thereofarranged to produce a material treatment passageway between the innerand outer edges thereof, inner bearing members surrounding the rotormembers positioned adjacent the abutting ends thereof, outer bearingmembers surrounding the rotor members positioned adjacent the outer endsthereof, means for supporting the bearing members for rotatablysupporting the rotors in axial alignment, a rotating motor elementsurrounding the rotor member positioned between the inner and outerbearing members, the element being rigidly secured to the rotor membersfor effecting rotation thereof, motor stator elements spacedlysurrounding the rotating motor elements, one of the stator elementsbeing arranged to inductively rotate the rotor element correlatedthereto in a direction oppositely from the rotation of the other rotormember, a base member for fixedly supporting the motor stator elementsin inductive relation to the rotor elements, and means supported by thebase member for supporting the bearing supporting members.

22. A colloidal mill for dispersing one material into another comprisingco-axially disposed adjacently positioned chambered rotor members havingdispersion surfaces formed on abutting end portions thereof arranged toform a dispersion passageway therebetween, a material receiving chamberformedbetween the abutting end portions communicating with the entranceend of the dispersion passageway, a passageway formed in one rotormember extending from the free end portion thereof to the receivingchamber arranged to conduct one material to the chamber, anotherpassageway formed in the other rotor member extending from the free endportion thereof to the receiving chamber for conducting another materialto the receiving chamber, means for effecting a flow of heat exchangeliquid in thechambersoftherotormemberatheinletandoutletoftheheatexchangechambersintherotorsbeingconcentriewithandparalleltothematerial inlet, means for supplying the materials to the passagewaysthrough the free end portions of the rotor members to their respectivepassageways, means for rotating the rotor members relatively fordispersion of the materials in the dispersion passageway, and means forconveying the dispersed materials from the mill.

23. A colloidal mill comprising, co-axially disposed rotor membershaving material treatment surfaces formed on the abutting ends thereofarranged'to produce a material treatment passageway therebetween, ahousing surrounding the rotor members, bearings surrounding the rotormembers positioned adjacent the abutting ends thereof, bearingsupporting housings surrounding the bearings supported by the rotorhousing, the bearing supporting housings being removable therefrom butnormally rigidly secured therein, thrust bearing units surrounding therotor members supported by the bearing supporting housings', certainthrust elements of the units being rigidly secured to the rotor membersand the other thrust elements thereof being supported by the unit, theunit being axially adiustably supported by the bearing supportinghousings whereby axial adjustment thereof will vary the size of thematerial treatment passageway, means for supplying material to thematerial treatment passageway through the rotor members, and means foreffecting relative rotation of the members for treating the material inthe passageway.

24. A colloidal mill comprising, co-axially disposed relativelyrotatable rotor members having material treatment surfaces formed on theabutting end portions thereof arranged to form a materlal treatmentpassageway therebetween, the abutting end portion having a heat exchangeliquid chamber formed therein arranged to eflect heat exchange of thematerial treated in the material treatment passageway, tubular portionsformed rearwardly of the abutting end portions having one end of thebore therein communicating with the chambers and openings formed in theother ends thereof, a fixed housing surrounding the outer end of eachtubular portion, the housing having a heat exchange liquid dischargechamber therein communicating with the opening in the bore, a heatexchange liquid receiving chamber formed in the housing, a tubularmember extending spacedly through the bore, the member having the outerend thereof communicating with the liquid receiving chamber and theinner end thereof communicating with the liquid chamber of the abuttingend portion, and means for supplying a heat exchange liquid to thereceiving chamber for effecting flow thereof through the tubular memberto the heat exchange chamber of the abutting end portion for effectingheat transfer of the material in the material treat-- ment passagewayand thence through the space material treatment passageway for treatmentthereby, and means for rotating the rotor members relatively fortreating the material in the passageway.

25. A colloidal mill comprising. co-axially disposed relativelyrotatable rotor members having 1' chambered abutting portions, theabutting ends thereof having material treatment surfaces formed thereonarranged to produce a material treatment passageway therebetween,tubular perhope formedontherotormembersrearwardlyim of the chamberedportions having the inner ends of the bores therein communicating withthe chambers and the outer ends of the bore open ended, a main housingsurrounding the abutting portions of the rotor members having bearingssupported therein for rotatably supporting the inner ends of the rotormembers, subsidiary housings surrounding the tubular portions adjacentthe openings therein, the last named housings having bearings forrotatably supporting the outer ends'of the rotor members. motor unitssurrounding the tubular portions having the driving elements thereofrigidly secured to the rotor members the motor units being positionedbetween the bearing housings, a base member for supporting the main andsubsidiary housings and the stationary elements of the motor units,means for supplying material to the material treatment passagewaythrough the subsidiary housings and means for supplying a heat exchangeliquid to and from the chambers of the abutting portions through thesubsidiary housings independently of the means for supplying thematerial therethrough to the material treatment passageway therethrough.

26. A colloidal mill comprising, a rotor member having a chamberedportion, the chambered portion having a material treatment surfaceformed on one end thereof arranged to abut a correlated materialtreatment surface whereby a material treatment passageway is formedtherebetween, a tubular portion formed on the rotor member having theinner end thereof integrally joined to the outer end of the chamberedportion, the outer end of the tubular portion navmg an opening thereincommunicating with the bore thereof, the bore communicating with thechamber of the chambered portion, a fixed housing member surrounding theouter end of the tubular portion having a chamber therein communieatingwith the opening of the tubular portion, means associated with thehousing member for effecting a flow of heat exchange liquid to the rotorchamber through the opening of the tubular portion and thence to thechamber of the housing, and means associated with the housing forconducting the liquid from the chamber therein.

27. A colloidal mill comprising, co-axially disposed rotor rnembershaving abutting chambered end portions, material treatment surfacesformed on the abutting ends thereof arranged to produce a materialtreatment passageway between the inner and outer edges thereof, tubularportions formed on the rotor members rearwardly of the chamberedportions having the bores thereof communicating with the chambers,openings formed in the outer ends of the tubular portions, a materialreceiving chamber formed between the abutting ends of the rotor memberspositioned at the inner end of the material treatment passageway,tubular members extending spacedly through the chambers and the boreshaving the inner end portions thereof communicating with the materialreceiving chamber and the outer end portions thereof extending spacedlythrough the bore of the tubular portions to the openings thereof, meansfor supplying materials to the outer end portion of the tubular membersfor delivery to the material receiving chamber to be treated by thematerial treatment passageway, means for supplying a heat exchangeliquid to and from the chambers of the end portions, means for rotatingthe rotor members relatively for treating the materials in thepassageway, and

means for conveying the treated material discharged by the materialtreatment passageway from the mill.

28. A colloidal mill comprising, a rotor member having a comparativelylarge diameter chambered material treatment portion formed at one endthereof, a material treatment surface formed thereon arranged to rotaterelatively to a correlated material treatment surface whereby a ma--terial treatment passageway is formed therebetween, a tubular shaftportion formed rearwardly of the material treatment portion having adiameter less than the material treatment portion,

the shaft portion being integrally joined to thev material treatmentportion and the bore therein communicating with the chamber therein, abearing member for rotatably supporting the rotor member surrounding theshaft portion thereof in juxtaposition to the material treatment portionthereof, another bearing member for rotatably supporting the rotormember surrounding the free end of the shaft portion, a motor unitsurrounding the shaft portion positioned between the bearing members,the rotating element of the motor unit being rigidly secured to theshaft portion, a duct extending axially through the rotor member forsupplying materials to the material treatment passageway, means forsupplying material to the duct, means for supplying a heat exchangeliquid to the chamber through the bore of the shaft portion, and ahorizontally disposed base member arranged to support the bearingmembers, and the stationary element of the motor unit.

29. A colloidal mill comprising, co-axially disposed oppositely facingrotor members having material treatment surfaces formed on the abuttingends thereof arranged to produce a material treatment passagewaytherebetween, a main housing surrounding the abutting ends of the rotormember arranged to receive the materials discharged by the materialtreatment passageway, bearing members supported by the housing forrotatably supporting the rotor members positioned adjacent the abuttingends thereof, subsidiary housings surrounding the free ends of the rotormembers having bearings supported therein for rotatably supporting thefree ends of the rotor members, motor units surrounding the rotormembers positioned between the main and subsidiary housings having thedriving elements thereof rigidly secured to the rotor members, a basemember for supporting the stationary elements of the motor units and themain and subsidiary housings, auxiliary housings supported between themain housing and the motor units independently of the base member, andother auxiliary housings supported between the motor units and thesubsidiary housings independently of the base member.

30. A colloidal mill comprising, horizontally disposed oppositely facingrotor members having material treatment surfaces formed on the abuttingends thereof whereby a material treatment passageway is formedtherebetween, a base member, a plurality of axially disposed endconnected housing members completely surrounding the rotor members forenclosing all rotating parts thereof areenclosed within the housings.certain housings comprising stationary elements of motor units supportedby the base for rotating the rotor members. conduits for conveying aheat exchange liquid to and from the rotor members connected to certainof the housing members, other conduits for conveying materials to betreated by the material treatment passageway connected to certain otherhousings, and a conduit *for conveying the treated material from themill connected to another certain housing, the liquid and materialconduits extending downwardly from the housings below the base memberwhereby the portion of the mill thereabove is unobstructed.

31. A colloidal comprising, relatively rotatable material treatmentmembers arranged to abut one another, a concentric series of wedgeshaped annular projections formed on the abutting faces of the mem theprojections of one member being arran ed to matingly enter between theprojections of the other member, material treatment surfaces formed onthe annular projections the surfaces being formed continuouslycircumferentially on the projections and the surfaces of one memberbeing positioned relatively to the surfaces of the other member to forma series of highly restricted passageways between the inner and outeredges of the abutting faces, a concentric series of grooves formed onthe abutting faces of the rotor members alternately with the projectionsthereon arranged to form comparatively free passageways whereby all thematerial is constrained to pass through the highly restrictedpassageways alternately with passing through the comparatively freepassageways during the relative rotation of the rotor members, means forrotatably. supporting the members to rotate relatively, means forsupplying material to the inner edges of the abutting faces fortreatment in the restricted passageways, and means for conveying thetreated material from the mill.

32. A colloidal mill comprising, co-axially disposed rotor membershaving abutting material treatment portions formed thereon, the abuttingends thereof forming a material treatment passageway extending betweenthe inner and outer edges thereof, chambered portions formed on therotor members rearwardly of the material treatment portions having aheat exchange liquid chamber therein, the chambered portions havingopenings in the outer ends thereof communicating with the chamber, amaterial receiving chamber formed between the abutting ends of thematerial treatment portions positioned at the inner end of the materialtreatment passageway, orifices formed in the material treatment portionsadjacent the material receiving chamber, material conveying passagewaysextending through the chamber of the chambered portions between theorifices of the material treatment portions and the openings of thechambers in the chambered portions, means for supplying material to thematerial conveying passageways for movement to the material receivingchamber, means for supplying a heat exchange liquid to the chambersthrough the openings thereof, means for rotating the rotor membersrelatively, and means for conveying the treated material discharged bythe material treatment passageway from the mill.

33. A colloidal mill comprising, co-axially disposed rotor membershaving the inner end portions thereof formed with abutting materialtreatment surfaces arranged to produce a material treatment passagewaytherebetween, chambered portions formed rearwardly of the inner endportions having openings therein positioned at the outer ends of therotor members, bearing members surrounding the rotor members forrotatably supporting the members in axial alignment, motor unitssurrounding the rotor members having the driving elements thereofrigidly secured thereto for emecting rotation thereof and the stationaryelements of the units fixedly positioned in inductive relation to thedriving elements thereof, means for supplying a heat exchange liquid tothe chambers of the rotor members through the openings therein, ductsextending through the chambers between the openings therein and thematerial treatment passageway for conveying materials to be treatedtherein, and means for supplying materials to the ducts for movement tothe material treatment passageway.

34. The combination with a colloid mill operated by a motor connected toa source of energy, the mill having a heat exchange liquid flowingtherethrough for thermally affecting the material being dispersedthereby, of means for conveying the heat exchange liquid to the mill,means for conveying the heat exchange liquid from the mill, and meansassociated with the heat exchange discharge conveying means affected bythe discharge flow therein normally effecting supply of energy from thesource to operate the motor arranged to cancel the supply therefrom upona predetermined rise in the temperature of the liquid discharge flow.

35. The combination with a colloid mill having means for conveying thematerials treated thereby from the mill, the mill having a heat exchangeliquid supplied thereto for thermally affecting the material treatedtherein, of means associated with the treated material conveying meansaffected by the variation in temperature of the treated material flowingtherein arranged to vary the quantity of the heat exchange liquidsupplied to the mill substantially in proportion to the variation in thetemperature of the treated material discharged by the mill 36. Acolloidal mill comprising, a rotor member having a material treatmentsurface formed on one end thereof arranged to rotate relatively to acorrelated material treatment surface for forming a materialtreatmentpassageway therebetween, ball bearings surrounding the rotormember positioned adjacent each end thereof with respect to the axis ofrotation of the rotor member, the bearings having the inner racesthereof rigidly secured for rotation with the rotor member and the outerraces thereof supported slldably axially with respect to the axis ofrotation of the rotor member, a thrust bearing unit surrounding therotor member spacedly between the ends thereof, the unit beingpositioned inwardly adjacent the ball bearing adjacent the materialtreatment surface end of the rotor member, a normally rotating portionformed on the unit rigidly secured to the rotor member for rotationtherewith, a rotatively supported normally stationary portion formed onthe unit cooperating with the normally rotating portion thereof forcontrolling the axial movement of the rotor member, the normallystationary portion being arranged to effect axial rotation of the rotormember for varying the size of the material treatment passageway uponvariable rotation thereof, means for effecting variable rotation of thenormally stationary portion of the thrust bearing unit, and means forrotating the rotor member positioned between the thrust bearing unit andthe bearing adjacent the end opposite to the material treatment surfaceend of the rotor member.

37. A colloidal mill comprising, a rotatively supported rotor memberhaving a material treatment surface formed on one end thereof arrrangedto abut a correlated material treatment surface for forming a materialtreatment passageway therebetween, means rotatively supporting the rotormember permitting axial movement thereof, a thrust bearing unitsurrounding the rotor member having a normally stationary rotativelysupported portion and a normally rotating portion co-operating therewithrigidly secured to the rotor member for rotationtherewith, the rotationof the normally stationary portion being arranged to efiect axialmovement of the rotor member for varying the size of the materialtreatment passageway, a manually operated rotatively supported gauging

